A call to arms

Wednesday

Jul 10, 2013 at 6:00 AM

Monday's public hearing at Assumption College on numerous bills dealing with firearms drew hundreds of activists and citizens, representing a broad range of opinion. Kudos to the chairmen of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, state Rep. Harold P. Naughton, D-Clinton, and state Sen. James E. Timilty, D-Walpole, who moderated a long hearing in a fair, orderly, and informative fashion.

If this and related hearings lead to nothing else, the day was at the very least a wonderful example of civic participation regarding an issue of vital public concern.

But we hope more does comes from this hearing than a good exercise in democracy.

Specifically, we hope for one very limited but important legislative action, greater attention to the enforcement of existing gun laws, and a deeper understanding that the problem of gun violence — in Massachusetts and across the nation — does not stem from law-abiding gun owners and the organizations to which they belong.

Of the many gun-related laws on Beacon Hill, we favor enactment into law of House Bill 3264. Sponsored by state Rep. George N. Peterson Jr., R-Grafton, the bill would replace the state's thicket of gun regulations with a single, comprehensive, updated law that respects the rights of citizens to keep and bear arms, streamlines the licensing system, and leaves no doubt that those who violate the rules must pay serious penalties.

Secondarily, we remain puzzled why Massachusetts still does not routinely forward mental health information to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Taking advantage of existing resources should be a given, and it should not require a new law to do so.

Gun rights groups and gun control advocates may not agree on much, but surely they can agree that firearms of all kinds should be kept out of the hands of those with mental illness. And surely rules can be written to recognize the differences between those who may have sought counseling at one time or another, and those for whom mental illness is an ongoing or lifelong struggle.

Finally, we strongly oppose the passage of additional restrictive laws that serve only to infringe upon the rights of law-abiding citizens. Efforts to limit the number of weapons and amount of ammunition one may purchase, and where such materials must be stored, makes for lively debate and headlines, but neither impresses not deters those who are the problem — criminals.

Massachusetts must stop demonizing firearms per se, and must not alienate law-abiding and responsible gun owners. Hunters, sportsmen, target shooters, and citizens who know and exercise their Second Amendment rights for all lawful purposes are in fact our most knowledgeable and best allies in the cause of gun safety and education.

Let's enforce the laws we have, overhaul them if we can, and focus our energies, on Beacon Hill and throughout the state, on stopping criminals from possessing and using firearms, and punishing them severely when they do.